Managing excess energy for when it’s needed most

Effective battery storage is a critical part of successful energy transition, especially as the contribution of alternative energy sources becomes increasingly essential. There are two important areas of activity. The first is grid scale storage, where substantial batteries run alongside large solar power plants. And the second is behind-the-meter activities for both domestic and industrial users. As batteries continue to reduce in cost, energy storage is an increasingly attractive opportunity for both user groups.

Grid scale storage technologies are critical in helping the electrical power grid to balance supply and demand by storing excess electricity and releasing it when it’s needed. This excess usually comes from variable renewable sources, like solar power, and inflexible sources, like nuclear power.

Behind-the-meter technologies and infrastructure produce energy that often never passes through the electricity meter. These systems, from solar panels to battery storage units, allow users to produce and store their own energy, then manage their consumption by using it at the optimum time. Less energy is required from the grid, reducing energy bills, and excess energy can be sold back to the grid.

Vehicle-to-grid technologies allow excess energy from increasingly effective electric vehicle batteries to be discharged back into the home. In turn, this helps increase demand for battery powered vehicles.